News and Stories from the Vilnius Union

[The Rock Doctor]

I'm considering a few other withdrawals but not quite ready to pull the trigger.  Some territory has a bit of value as a buffer, some as a story hook and some...is just there to make the borders look neater.

[Kaiser Kirk]

"We have a limited amount of logistical support that can be re-allocated towards getting basic supplies to the internees.  They'll have to help with camp construction and we'll need to spread those around a bit more," the Minister of War said, more sharply this time.  "If we had a hospital ship, I'd already have sent it.  I can, at least, pull out some field hospitals from our North Erican garrison and send them down to help with medical care."

"Do that, then," the Prime Minister said.  "And ask the Mayans about returning the internees - just the injured, if it comes to that."

There will be a delay of a week (for internal discussions), and then Parthia will make an offer to Wilno, that if acceptable to the various parties, they will remove munitions from it's freighter-liners gathered in Liere (Trinadad) and send them to provide additional tents, food, spare clothing and medical support for the internees. The ships at Liere have already begun offloading munitions and heavy equipment and will be ready to depart soon.  They will accept Mayan Monitors to verify neutrality if such wish to meet them prior to departure, or at sea off Cumana. 
(  should be ~5DP worth of support arriving 3rd week of July).

Edit Note : This is offered without Parthia knowing the full details.  The Combined Army has a substantial amount of gear and food, and there's a fleet off Panama with more. The Parthian offer is likely of at best modest help.

[The Rock Doctor]

August 1, 1923

"Governor," said the Prime Minister.

"Prime Minister," replied the Governor of Zwiazek Karaiby as the two shook hands in the Prime Minister's office in Vilnius.  "Thank you for the opportunity to meet."

"Of course, of course.  Have a seat.  We'll have refreshments served shortly," the Prime Minister said, moving back behind his desk with a wave toward the single chair on the governor's side.  "Quite an eventful time in your part of the world."

"That would be an understatement," the governor agreed.  "And you know I'm primarily here for that reason."

"I assumed so, yes.  It's a long voyage for anything less significant."

"So you're aware that the Mayans have completely overrun the Japanese colony adjacent to the canal zone," the governor said, "And that I'm quite alarmed at the security situation there."

The Prime Minister nodded.  "Your correspondence has been persistent and clear on that point, yes."

"Naturally, I'm wanting assurances that there will be a significant re-allocation of funding into the defence of the canal zone and its environs, beginning as soon as possible."

"You're aware of the hasty allocation of funding towards forts on the isthmus itself," the PM said.  "And some coastal gun batteries, I believe."

"Which is a start, certainly, but as I understand the situation, even the current garrison is smaller than what the Japanese had in place before the Mayans chewed through them.  I'd like more.  We need more."

"And this despite the Mayans' adherence to rule of international law and respect of our borders?" the Prime Minister asked.  "When I last heard, they were thought to be drawing down their forces in the isthmus rather than building up for an assault upon us."

"Yes, well, that could change quite quickly," the governor retorted.

The Prime Minister shrugged.  "I don't agree.  I do respect that we need to put on a decent show, but I disagree with the premise that we're next.  Even if some of the cabinet feel otherwise.  Now, I heard you were directing the construction of a new rail line out of the canal zone?"

"That's correct, a line and improved road connections from the canal zone around to the nearest port on the Caribbean coast.  It'll ease logistics in the event that we needed to move significant amounts of material but lack secure access to the canal itself," the governor confirmed.  "It's discretionary funding, Prime Minister."

"I know, I know.  You have that authority.  I'm just commenting," the Prime Minister noted.  "You don't think that will cause consternation within the People's Republic?"

"I want it to.  I want them to think twice and a third time about ever even considering an invasion.  At any rate, I've no doubt they'll be improving their own road and rail options soon enough."

"Perhaps.  How bad is the internee situation?"

The governor sighed.  "Bad, but easing.  The Parthian logistical contribution has been a life-saver, literally.  Embarrassing as it may be to have to accept it, it was really the only practical option.  I've got over nine legions' worth of men - mostly Aztec to take care of, you know."

"Not for long, I'm sure.  We'll have a ceasefire soon enough and they can go home," the Prime Minister said.

The governor frowned.  "I don't think that's the case at all.  I have to think the Japanese and Aztecs aren't done with this at all."

"Surely they can't hope to re-invade the place now?"

"I have a hunch they're going to make a play to the east.  Grab the Mayan territory in South Erica and try to negotiate it back to the Mayans," the governor said.

"I feel that's unlikely."

"I'd wager a zloty on it," the governor countered.

The Prime Minister smiled wanely.  "You're on."

[The Rock Doctor]

13 August 1923

Reports were in of yet another Mayan airship snooping outside the canal zone, as they so frequently had these past few months.  With Battle Squadrons 5 and 6 making another sortie across the Caribbean from Johannestadt to Loobow, it seemed as if Wiceadmiral Rahm wanted to be sure the Mayans didn't get too nosy - or close - and fortunately, he had aircover in the form of the seaplane carrier Oriona.

Kapitan Marynarki Jansen watched through his goggles as the deck officer looked about at the windsock on Oriona's foredeck, the choppy seas before her, and Jansen's own Lundstrom Vespa.  He had the little fighter at low throttle, impatient to take to the skies for a rare chance at intercepting a foreign target.  He just needed the deck officer to give the instructions...

Satisfied, the officer cranked his left forearm in a circle, then jabbed his right arm toward the bow.  Jansen grinned, shouted, "See you guys in Loodow!" and opened up the throttle, sending the Vespa down Oriona's flying-off deck.

29 August 1923

"No.  No.  I do not want that on my ship," Komandor Podporucznik Boniek declared, resting his hands on his hips and otherwise blocking the single gangway between the pier and the riverine seaplane carrier Wezownik.

"Ah...I have orders to make the delivery, sir," the logistics officer replied after a moment.  "Canisters of film to support your aerial photography tasking."

"I'm aware of the tasking, thank you," Boniek said.  "But that crap is highly flammable and a hazard to my ship and crew.  I won't have it aboard."

"This?" the other man said, waving toward the closest crate. 

"The film."

The logistics officer shook his head.  "You misunderstand, Captain.  This isn't nitrate-based film.  It's celluose acetate.  Doesn't burn, supposedly very stable and long-lived."  After a moment, he added, "How were you going to undertake your tasking if you didn't take any film aboard?"

"Hand-drawn maps," Boniek said. 

"Yeah, sure.  I've got guys unloading a plane with a specific camera fitted to it at this very moment," the logistics man countered, pointing toward a freighter at another of Widoknagory's piers.  "This film is for that plane.  If you don't like it, that's fine, take it up with the admiral.  I'll be happy to unload it after he gives the word.  But until then, I've got orders to deliver this to you."

"Doesn't burn?" Boniek repeated.

"Doesn't burn."

"Fine.  Fine, bring it aboard."

29 September 1923

"For God's sake, it's been five weeks now," the ship's captain lamented.  "Just let us go, we'll continue on to Igwuocha like we're supposed to, you can take everything out of my safe and be on your way."

"My people are contacting your owner to arrange a ransom," Kalu retorted.  "It may take time, but I'm going to keep a firm hold on you until that happens.  Besides, I've already emptied your safe."

The captain rolled his eyes.  "You have to realize we'll have been reported overdue.  The military will be looking for us."

"I'm sure they are, Captain, but the delta is enormous.  Countless channels, many of them still uncharted by the King's men," Kalu shrugged.  "They are not going to find this little scow before your company pays for it.  Trust me, Captain.  Your vessel isn't the first I've waylaid.  They'll pay as they always do." 

The captain turned his head up, shielding his eyes with one hand.

"What?" Kalu asked.

"I don't know, I hear something," the captain said.

Now he heard it as well, a buzzing drone from downriver.  He frowned, then wheeled to take in his immediate surroundings:  The little riverine oil tanker, tied up next to his encampment, his motorized canoes tied outboard of the tanker. 

All completely devoid of cover from the air.  "Bloody hell," he muttered as a red floatplane came into view, banking above the nearest curve in this previously obscure side-channel of the Orimiri river.  "Everybody remain calm, they might not-"

But some idiot on the shore was already firing his rifle at the floatplane...

[The Rock Doctor]

14 October 1923

"Helm, ring for engines full ahead," Komandor Porucznik Sokorski called out.

"Aye, Sir, engine full ahead..."

Labedz was responsive, surging through the southern Baltic with a bone in her teeth, her torpedo-boat escort diligently following in her wake. 

"Feels like we're up to thirty knots," the chief of the boat mused.  "Maybe a tad more."

"Agreed," Sokorski replied.  Having spent the last two years commanding Labedz's half-sibling Rybolow, he was pretty familiar with how the hull and the machinery interacted.  What he wasn't familiar with was the broad flat deck covering most of the ship's surface.   "XO, take the helm.  Mister Janacek, walk with me?"

The diminutive carrier's first airgroup commander nodded.  "Aye, Sir."

They descended to deck level and Sokorski pushed open the hatch on the starboard side of the ship's superstructure, stepping out onto the flight deck.  Janacek followed, sniffing at the salty wind flowing over the bow.  "Good breeze.  Close to fifty knots, I'd wager.  We'd have no trouble getting airborne with this."  As one of the first pilots to launch off the Oriona, he would know.

"Oriona has a longer flying-off deck, doesn't she?" Sokorski inquired.

"Yeah, but she's eight knots slower.  It's a reasonable trade-off," Janacek said.  "It's the landing deck I'm more interested in."  He started aft, passing the forward funnel, glancing up at the crane nestled between the stacks.  "This really feels like wasted space here, Captain, you know?"

"Better than having it clutter up the landing deck or the sides, though," Sokorski answered.  "It's short enough as it is, I thought."

"Eh.  It could be worse," Janacek replied.  "Feels like there's a bit of turbulence coming off the bridge."

"That was expected."

"It was, but let's see if it gets better or worse as we head aft," the pilot suggested.  "Makes my life easier if the landing deck is better."
They continued past the aft funnel and the little landing operations centre behind it, then stepped over the arresting net currently lying flush against the teak deck.  "I think it's just as bad," Sokorski said.

"Worse," Janacek said.  "Maybe when I make my first attempt, we can steam at cruising speed instead of flank.  Less airflow over the deck but the airflow might be smoother.  If I don't like it, I'll break off and return to land."

"Of course.  To the sides I assume?  You're not going to try pulling up, I assume?"

Janacek grinned.  "No, I'd splatter myself all over the funnel.  I won't know until I make the call precisely which way I'd break off...not even sure it matters...but the Vespa's engine torque makes it easier to turn to starboard."

"Understood," Sokorski nodded.

[Kaiser Kirk]

They could just attach a giant spring to the funnel, so when he hits it he bounces, instead of spatters.
OOH, give him a pusher aircraft with a giant spring on the front, so whatever he hits, he bounces !!!

[The Rock Doctor]

But is this part of the 1918 tech or do I have to wait until the 1922 tech is done?

[The Rock Doctor]

15 November 1923

"Fourth time's the charm, Sir," one of the other pilots suggested as Labedz's air group and command staff watched Kapitan Marynarki Janacek's Vespa approach from the starboard quarter.

"From your lips to God's ears," Komandor Porucznik Sokorski replied.

Janacek and others had experienced few problems with the taking-off deck, other than the one Vespa that had ditched half a mile into its flight on account of engine difficulties.  Landing had been another matter entirely, though - the turbulence coming off the little carrier's superstructure was considerably more troublesome than had been anticipated.  Janacek's first and second attempts at landing hadn't even reached the deck, while his third had produced just a second or two of wheels on deck before he'd gunned the throttle and veered off to starboard.

This time around Labedz was only steaming at ten knots, with the chilly Baltic breeze about thirty degrees off the port bow.  The intention was to generate less turbulence, and perhaps have the wind direct the worst of it off the flight deck.  Whether it would allow for the Vilnius Union's first successful carrier landing was about to be determined.

"Looking good..." somebody muttered as the Vespa, no doubt just a few knots above stall speed, droned closer.

"He's lining up on the starboard approach," a different pilot observed.  Janacek had done that on his last attempt, too, coming in on the starboard side of the deck rather than the centreline so he'd have a bit more room during a go-around.

"There it is, again..." Sokorski growled as the plane began to buffet a bit. 

"Almost there..."

And he was almost there, but the plane was bouncing around nonetheless.  "Wave off!" Sokorski exclaimed.  "Wave him off!"

But the Vespa's left wheel made momentary contact with the deck as the deck operations officer waved a red flag and then the plane bumped back up a couple of feet and lurched to starboard.  Sokorski expected a throttle-up, but Janacek seemed to try to turn into the wind and re-establish contact.  The fighter rolled to starboard, the starboard wheel clipping the very top side of the flight deck before breaking off and dropping into the water alongside.  Janacek attempted to pull up, but the Vespa stalled and made a short, tali-down dive into the waves as well.

"Ring engines stop!  Rudder hard to pot! Prepare for recovery!" Sokorski bellowed.

[Kaiser Kirk]

flight deck before breaking off and dropping into the water alongside.  Janacek attempted to pull up, but the Vespa stalled and made a short, tali-down dive into the waves as well.

oh crud, wilno's inventing submersible aircraft !

[The Rock Doctor]

December 1923

You'll be relieved to know that Kapitan Maryarki Janacek was able to scramble clear of his Vespa after it hit the water, and only almost drowned on account of an enterprising seaman who leapt off Labedz with a flotation device in hand to assist him.  They'd be rescued a few minutes later by a torpedo-boat that had been trailing astern of the tiny carrier for precisely this kind of scenario.

Janacek would, in December, finally accomplish the goal of safely landing aboard a ship underway, but the fix was in.  Labedz, though clearly capable of launching her modest airgroup, was an absolute dog to land on.  There was just too much turbulence coming off her upperworks, and in certain situations, the exhaust from her stacks was quite the hazard in its own right.  Two pilots were seriously injured in proving this; one would be medically discharged, in fact, due to the severity of those injuries.

So word made it up to the Grand Admiral's office, where it was noted that another, much larger carrier had been scheduled for lay-down in early 1924.  Obviously some re-thinking was in order, since the new design incorporated the same apparent problem - superstructure and funnels amidships on the centreline - as plagued Labedz.  With a (reported) grunt of annoyance, Grand Admiral Zahle ordered the ship delayed to 1925 while wind tunnel tests, previously thought an unnecessary expense, were ordered.

The Bureau of Construction was not too concerned about this development on account of being distracted with the consequences of two other cancellations.  The development of sonar and its expected deployment in the latter part of 1924 had prompted tinkering with the T-class torpedo-boat design.  Rather than lay down two T-class boats in early 1924, these were cancelled and re-ordered as new U-class boats for lay-down in the summer. 

Naturally, this decision was quite pleasing to the mayors of Uusikaupunki and Uppsula, which the ships would be named for, but not so pleasing to the mayors of Tartu and Teplice, which the ships would no longer be named for.  Many snarky letters were sent to the appropriate members of the Sejm, the Minister of War, the Prime Minster, the press, and even the King.  As New Years Eve arrived in Europe and calendars turned to 1924, there was still an outsized amount of effort being made in political circles to appease the mayors of Tartu and Teplice, who had been extremely emotionally invested in the idea of having local VIPs join them in lavish laying-down ceremonies and very vocal in their outrage at being robbed of this opportunity to bask in glory.

Meanwhile, down in deepest, darkest, tropical, coastal Africa, the problem of banditry and river piracy continued to be an ongoing low-grade threat in the Orimiri delta.  Seagoing ships weren't really in danger, but coasters, lighters and other small craft carrying oil, cash crops, and other goods were at risk of being seized and looted or squirreled away for ransom.  While the local naval station had a small quantity of patrol craft to try combating the infestation, it was a mildly-drunk motor torpedo-boat engineer in Amsterdam who would propose taking the old Type B MTBs, replacing their torpedo-tubes with ad-hoc seating for a squad of naval infantry, and shipping them south to patrol the delta at high speed...

[The Rock Doctor]

April 23, 1924

The Minister of Defence leaned back, eyed Grand Admiral Zahle for a moment, then lit his pipe.  "So...what you're saying is that she's a deathtrap?  And doesn't work?"

Zahle shook his head.  "No, Sir.  I'm saying the design is flawed.  We anticipated some degree of turbulence on the landing deck due to the placement of the superstructure.  We did not anticipate the scale of that turbulence."

"And you've lost two pilots killed and several injured as a result of this."

"That's correct, Sir."

"Does that not seem like a deathtrap to you?"

Zahle sighed.  "Minister, it's an evolving technology, much like the submarine.  Consider the accidents we had early on - losing a crew on U-2, the fire on U-5, the near-misses as other ships almost ran various boats down.  Our progress took time, but it's gotten much, much safer."  He tapped the arm of his chair with the fingers of his left hand, lest he jinx himself.  "We understand what needs to be done with Labedz.  We need to get her back to a yard, raze her existing superstructure, and replace it with a more compact superstructure on the port beam."

"But you're not doing that," the Minister observed, nodding at the briefing book on his desk.  "She's running around launching her airplanes and going back to port to retrieve them.  Why?"

"I'm buying time, Sir.  If I send her in right now, I'll have to find the funding from elsewhere in the budget.  That means a conversation with Finance.  That means having to defend construction of the next aircraft carrier in January because the existing carrier doesn't do her job," Zahle explained.  "We're not ready to have that conversation.  The next carrier was designed in the same manner as Labedz and we've been revising it for a couple of months now as we're learning what doesn't work.  In a month or so we should have a solid revision, and wind tunnel testing and iteration can proceed at that point."

"Will that be finished before the ship is started?"

"I'm certain it will. Superstructure offset to port and simplified, nobody unfamiliar with the design will suspect a thing," Zahle said.  "Once funding is in place and the keel laid, we'll identify some other reason to bring Labedz in for refurbishment.  Probably adjustments to her armament, given the recent war.  In the meantime, there are various exercises we can put her through to see how she'd operate with capital ships and cruisers, as an aircraft transport, and even as a seaplane carrier."

"Very well," the Minister sighed.  "Now, what's this about no capital ship being laid down next year?"

"Well, Sir, it's like this...," Zahle began. 

[Kaiser Kirk]

That means a conversation with Finance.   

I wonder why there's been no dreadnought Finance

[Jefgte]

I wonder why there's been no dreadnought Finance

Because it costs too much   :)

[The Rock Doctor]

May 17, 1924

There was a knock on the door and then it opened just enough for the adjutant to call, "Sir, Major Vasa is here as ordered."

"Send him in," General-Brygady Klein replied.  He stroked his mustache, then opened the top drawer of his desk and waited.

Major Vasa - also known as Crown Prince Gunther outside of uniform - entered, clicked his heels together, and saluted sharply.  "Reporting as ordered, Sir."

"Yes, very good," Klein said as the door closed behind Vasa.  "Have a seat, Major."

There was only one seat to be had, and Vasa took four steps to reach it.  "Thank you, Sir."

"Don't thank me yet, Major," Klein said, reaching into the desk drawer.  The single sheet of paper, twice-folded, felt nonsensically heavy as he reached across the desk and held it out. 

"Oh," Vasa said, accepting it after a moment's hesitation.  He unfolded it and began reading it.  "Case Amber Two.  Oh dear."

Klein hadn't seen the telegram - only the duty operator, now confined to quarters per protocol, had - but he breathed a little easier at that. 

"I...," Vasa began.  "There's been an accident, Sir.  My mother has been seriously injured and has asked for family to attend to her in Vilnius."

"I'll have transportation arranged immediately."

"Thank you, Sir.  I...if I remember correctly, Three indicates life-changing but non-fatal injuries or illness..."

"That's correct, Major."

Vasa nodded, folding the paper back up and then a couple more times in addition to that.  "I would appreciate whatever leave can be arranged, Sir.  I'm not sure how long I'll be expected to stay."

"It's not an issue, Major," Klein said.  "If I may be frank, Major, you should probably not return at all.  Your father is sixty-six, I believe, and I was fully prepared for this to be notice of his passing.  While I certainly regret that Her Majesty has been injured, perhaps the silver lining is that this was not a Diamond Zero notice after all.  I would put to you that this may the time that your service to the army should conclude and the entire of your time should henceforth be directed toward preparing for the day that you do receive that notice."

"I...cannot argue with that, Sir," Vasa admitted.

"Others may.  It certainly isn't my call to make.  I just wouldn't be surprised if His Majesty or senior staff broach the subject in a quiet moment."

"Yes, Sir," Vasa said.  "If there is nothing else, Sir, allow me to say I'm grateful to have had this opportunity."

"Likewise, Major," Klein said.  "You're dismissed, Major.  I will pray for your mother, and wish you safe travels."

[The Rock Doctor]

1 January 1925:  Loobow, Zwiazek Karaiby

The coastal escorts EP-2 and EP-3 arrive at the Trans-Eryka Canal's Caribbean terminus and join Harbour Patrol Group #15.  This is a very minor milestone in that it brings HPG#15 up to its full theoretical complement of 1 korweta, 3 coastal escorts and/or submarine chasers, and 3 harbour patrol boats.  Most such formations have at most one submarine chaser and two harbour patrol boats in addition to their korweta. It just happens that Loobow is no ordinary harbour and so gets some measure of priority (much like its counterpart on the Pacific Coast, Bannaba, will in six months or so).

There's talk of a modified coastal escort type - with sonar in addition to hydrophones - coming into production in 1926, and much speculation that building rates will increase from four per year to at least six and perhaps eight.  Otherwise, there's around talk of standing up as many as thirty harbour patrol groups outside Europe and it's going to take a while to fill them all at current production rates.

9 January 1925:  Siebethsburg

Battle Squadron #4 had stood down after the sale of the pre-dreadnought battleships Uparty and Nieustraszony to Byzantium.  Their escorting cruisers, Parnu and Narva, had been dispatched to the Caribbean to replace a couple of the old Vitava-class cruisers now been scrapped.

But on this particular day, the squadron is reconstituted with the new battleship Johann Encke and the new light cruiser Rhein - both of which are just starting trials, mind you.  They'll be joined over the next year by the battleship Carlotta Frolich and light cruiser Oder, establishing BS#4 as the most powerful of the navy's six battle squadrons for a few years yet.

19 January 1925:  Helsingborg

The relevance of the Jutland Swarm has faded over the past several years as Union commitments require more and more light craft to be deployed overseas, while submarines and aircraft are beginning to bite into the torpedo-boat's traditional dominance of Swarm firepower.

Fifteen of the not-terribly-old, but certainly obsolete, H-class torpedo-boats remain in service alongside twenty recently-upgraded I-class and four of the peculiar P-class boats, but they won't be around long.  Five more will be decommissioned and scrapped in July, and the other then will go next year.  What happens to the Swarm after that is unclear.  As new U-class ships come into service and take on capital ship escort duties, the older K-class might see further dispersal overseas, and that may free up some J-class boats to come back home to Europe.

Or the Navy will just invest in a crapload of 80 t motor-torpedo-boats.  Maybe both.  Hard to say.